Types and best varieties of perennial petunias
Scientists studying varieties and varieties of petunia classify it as a perennial plant. Science knows about 25 species that have cardinal differences. However, there is a classification according to which the culture is divided into several groups depending on the shape of the bush and the size of the buds. In this article, we will tell you about the features of the ampelous, large-flowered, multi-flowered variety and petunia floribunda.
The content of the article
Are there perennial petunias
Petunia Is a perennial herbaceous or semi-shrub plant of the Solanaceae family. Natural habitat - tropical countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia). Sometimes petunia is found in North America.
The name of the flower comes from the word petun, which means "tobacco" in Brazilian. The name appeared for a reason, in fact, petunia is a relative of real tobacco. The plant became widespread in the 18th century. and quickly won the love of flower growers.
Perennial petunia is usually grown as an annual. The exception is the hybrid form of culture - petunia Gioconda F1... The plant does not produce seeds and reproduces vegetatively. A distinctive feature of the hybrid is a lush bloom lasting up to 12 months.
Description of perennial petunia
Perennial petunias propagate by seeds and cuttings, depending on the species. Terry varieties give little seed, therefore they are multiplied mainly cuttings.
Description of perennial petunia:
- Perennial petunia is a herbaceous or semi-shrub plant.
- Stems are erect or creeping, branched with a slight edge. Height - 15-70 cm, depending on the species.
- The leaves are oval, solid, green or dark green, 5-12 cm in diameter.
- Single flowers are located on short peduncles. Funnel-shaped, regular and irregular, fringed and terry.
- The variety of shades is amazing. There are flowers of scarlet, red, purple, pink, lilac, blue, blue, white, yellow shades. There are varieties with a contrasting border, stripes, halo or speckled pattern.
- Flowering period - July - October. In place of a wilted flower, a fruit appears in the form of a box with small seeds.
To prolong the life of this amazing flower, in the fall, growers dig up a bush along with an earthen lump and transplant it into pot... A container with a flower is sent to the basement for storage, and with the arrival of spring, it is taken out into the sunlight and watered abundantly. The roots of the petunia come to life, and the plant grows quickly.
Reference. Petunia is an annual or perennial plant that is grown outdoors, in planters or flower pots on balconies or verandas.
Types and best varieties of perennial petunias
Despite the fact that scientists began studying petunias more than 200 years ago, a general scientific classification of culture has not yet been presented. However, there are several main types of plants: multifloral, small-flowered, ampelous and floribunda petunia.
Ampelnaya
Ampelnaya perennial petunia it is distinguished by hanging lashes 0.5-1.5 m long, thanks to which it looks amazing in hanging pots on verandas, balconies and terraces. This group is characterized by unpretentious care and resistance to unfavorable climates. Such varieties are otherwise called balcony or garden.
Ampel petunias are characterized by long flowering with a small number of funnel-shaped or bell-shaped buds. The petals are smooth, simple or covered with small folds, the edges are smooth, fringed or carved. The diameter of the rims is 15-80 mm. The color is varied: one-color, 2- or 3-color, with many veins, a dark or light border and the same core.
The most popular are:
- Conchita Series with small flowers up to 5 cm in diameter. Various shades: scarlet, white, blue, violet, pink, yellow, blue.
- Wave Series when planted outdoors, creates wide, weather-resistant floral carpets. The plant blooms profusely and for a long time. The flowers are funnel-shaped, 50-70 cm in diameter. The color of the buds: dark blue, purple, lavender, pale pink, deep pink, light lilac.
- Avalanche F1 - an amazing series of ampelous petunias with shoots 60-80 cm long. When planted in a pot or pots, it forms flowing "streams" of large buds with wide rims. The flower diameter reaches 70-90 mm. When planted in open ground, the branching stems create a dense floral carpet with a diameter of 1.6 m.The color is purple, orange, red, yellow, white, blue, salmon, pink. The palette of shades expands with veins and white stripes emerging from the core of the flower.
- Corduroy Series It is represented by plants with hanging stems 0.8-1 m long. The varieties are distinguished by their high vigor and resistance to diseases. Numerous buds with a diameter of 50-70 mm are wonderful honey plants, therefore varieties of this series are planted in vegetable gardens and orchards to attract bees to crops in need of pollination. These petunias are characterized by late flowering. Flower color: dark pink, salmon, purple. The petals have light yellow or dark, almost black veins.
- Decorative series Opera Supreme F1 with flexible shoots 1 m long, it is resistant to direct sunlight. Due to strong branching, openwork lashes, spherical or teardrop-shaped bushes, covered with small funnel-shaped buds with a diameter of 50-60 mm, are formed from the shoots. Coloring of petals: blue, blue, pale lilac, white, purple, light pink, crimson.
Large-flowered
Large-flowered petunia is a perennial flower known by its second name, Grandiflora. This is the most popular and widespread plant variety, which is distinguished by large flowers with a diameter of 8-12 cm.
This group of petunias includes several subgroups:
- high - up to 60 cm in height;
- low - up to 30 cm;
- fringed low and high - 25-75 cm;
- excellent low and high - 30-75 cm;
- terry - 50-60 cm.
Double Cascade F1
A series of low plants (25-35 cm) with highly branching stems that form compact bushes. The flowers are large, funnel-shaped, double, 12-13 cm in diameter. The colors of the buds: burgundy, dark blue, lavender-pink, pale pink, lavender. The surface of the petals is smooth or veined.
Galaxy F1
Differs in branched compact bushes 25 cm high. The flowering period is from May to October. The flowers are funnel-shaped, snow-white, with a star-shaped center and lace petals with wavy edges. The diameter of the flower is 8-10 cm.
Black velvet
The variety was bred by British breeders. The height of the bushes is 35 cm, the diameter is 25-30 cm. The stems are branched, the flowers are large, bell-shaped, painted in dark purple, almost black. The flower diameter reaches 80 mm. The surface of the petals is velvety. The flowering period is from May to the end of September.
Spherical F1
The universal series is used for decorating lawns, verandas and balconies. Stems 25 cm high create a dense bush up to 30 cm in diameter. Flowers are funnel-shaped, dark purple, salmon, pale pink, blue. Corolla diameter reaches 12 cm. Plants are resistant to prolonged rains.
Sophistry F1
The series is represented by a group of varieties bred by American breeders.Herbaceous stems reach 40 cm in height, form spherical bushes with a diameter of 30 cm due to good branching. Separated petals with smooth or wavy edges form simple flowers 8-10 cm in diameter.
The color of the flowers is blue-blue with a shining white core, pale pink with creamy white streaks, black with purple overflow, lemon-green or pink with greenish-yellow blotches. Shades can change depending on the lighting: the more sunlight, the brighter the color of the buds.
Multi-flowered
Multi-flowered petunia has a second name - multiflora. The plant is distinguished by its small flowers and begins flowering in mid-April. During intensive flowering, small flowers with a diameter of 5 cm appear on the bushes. Representatives of this group are famous for their unpretentious care and resistance to bad weather.
Popular:
- Fantasy series includes 9 hybrid varieties up to 20 cm high. The color of flowers: white, burgundy-crimson, monochromatic and with contrasting veins.
- The Mirage series includes 13 hybrids of double petunias. The diameter of the flowers is 6-9 cm. The colors are varied: blue, white, scarlet, orange, pink, lilac, purple, blue.
- Celebrity F1 Series consists of 13 undersized hybrids with small flowers 5 cm in diameter. The petals are decorated with contrasting, bright veins that create a fine mesh pattern at the base of the funnel. Flower color: lilac-pink with burgundy veins, salmon-red with dark veins, white with blue stripes, blue-violet, dark red.
- Series Pikoti F1 bred by American breeders. It includes 5 hybrids with flowers of original shades. The bushes are compact, undersized - up to 25 cm. Petals with a white border and corrugated edges. Coloring of buds: red, crimson, pink, purple, violet-blue.
- Glafira variety differs in strongly branching straight shoots up to 30 cm high. Abundant flowering, from May until the first frost. The diameter of the rim is 45-65 mm. Petals with smooth, round edges. The color is varied: blue, red, white, pink, purple.
Floribunda
Floribunda, or abundantly flowering petunia - an intermediate group of plants between multi-flowered and large-flowered petunias. Flowers have absorbed the distinctive features of 2 types: large flowers and unpretentious care. Floribunda looks beautiful outdoors on a large scale, since the shoots do not branch well. Petunia is grown as annual or perennial.
Sonya F1
One of the most popular series includes 11 hybrid varieties. The bushes are compact, undersized, 25 cm high. The flowers are simple, 60-80 mm in diameter. Color: pink, crimson, red, white, crimson-burgundy, blue-violet. Many varieties are two-colored: pink-lilac with lilac-burgundy veins, crimson-pink or crimson-burgundy with a white star in the middle, light purple with dark streaks or red with a white border.
Milky Way F1
Low-growing plant up to 25 cm high. Branched shoots, erect. The flowering period is from May to October. The petals are lacy, snow-white, wavy at the edges, inside there is a pink star. The diameter of the corollas reaches 10 cm. The culture is resistant to bad weather, the flowers do not fall off after heavy rains.
Angora F1
A hybrid with branched erect shoots forming a bush 45 cm high. The flowering period lasts from June until the first frost. The bushes are covered with large double flowers with a diameter of 70 mm. The petals are pink with wavy edges.
Conclusion
Florists grow petunia as an annual or perennial. Scientifically speaking, it is a perennial plant that is adapted to hot climates and can bloom for a long time. In mid-latitudes, petunia is often grown as an annual crop due to the climate.The flowering period begins in April - May and ends with the arrival of the first frost.
The most popular types of perennial petunias are ampelous, multi-flowered, large-flowered and profusely flowering. The variety of shades is amazing: funnel-shaped or bell-shaped flowers form smooth or velvety petals with straight, corrugated or wavy edges. Perennial petunia is distinguished by its unpretentious care and abundant flowering.